Social Responsibility: Super Sarapan project in Miri, Sarawak

SapuraOMV is sponsoring a breakfast programme for schoolchildren from ages 7 to 17 from the vulnerable area in Miri, Sarawak. The Super Sarapan (Super Breakfast) project is in partnership with Yayasan Generasi Gemilang and is aimed at feeding children from low-income households whose family’s combined monthly income is less than RM2,500.

SapuraOMV Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Zamri Jusoh explained, “This is one of our Social Responsibility initiatives to address hunger amongst school children by providing them with a balance meal, daily. We are delighted to be one of Yayasan Generasi Gemilang partners in this, supporting one of UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG #3). It is our hope that this will motivate them to stay in school, get a quality education thus, opening the door for them to create a better future and elevate their livelihood. We see this as paying forward to enable them to become a progressive generation that will improve the future of the people of Miri and Sarawak, in general.”

Yayasan Generasi Gemilang Service Director Olivia Cheah echoed the sentiment, “We want to ensure the children are able to stay in school and are ensured one meal every day they are in school. There are many school children who may have fallen through the cracks, and face insecurities be it food or plans for their future. We want to see them fulfil their dreams and give them the assurance that their goals are not beyond their reach. We thank SapuraOMV whose support has enabled us to reach out to more schoolchildren who are in need.”

Being part of this programme has also motivated several of the teachers to go one step further. If they notice any schoolchildren who have not been coming in for meals and have been absent from school for many days, they will visit the children’s homes to enquire about their well-being. SMK Lutong Guidance and Counselor teacher, Tan Ai Lih said, “We would try and find out why they missed school and coax the parents and the children to attend school. Having these meals does play a significant role for them to return to school, as their parents are no longer worrying about how to feed the child.”

As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child, and this initiative exemplifies how many parties are coming together to help these schoolchildren. Apart from financial aid, and the teachers’ unwavering support, the school canteen’s operator also plays a key role in the programme. They are responsible for ensuring the food they supply are fresh, adequate with protein, carbohydrate, and vegetables, as well as being tasty and attractive for the schoolchildren.

The beneficiaries from the programme welcome the availability of a warm and filling breakfast as several of them come to school with only plain water or black coffee. The children are more than happy with the food serving portions, and varieties that they get daily. The availability of such warm meals also helps them to focus better on their daily tasks at school.

When asked about their future, several of the children said that they would like to be in the health sector as they want to give back to their community and support those in need. Whilst one of them who is talented in cooking has plans to pursue a skill in the culinary sector.

With such initiatives, SapuraOMV hopes that the children will remain in the education system and progress towards making their dreams come true, thereby helping to eradicate poverty in their respective communities.

Social Responsibility Team of SapuraOMV